Parents in England face fines of up to £160 if they let their children skip school on Monday, July 6, after England's World Cup Round of 16 match against Mexico, which kicks off at 1am UK time. The Department for Education has confirmed that schools will not be directed to open later or to be more lenient on unplanned absences.
Government Confirms No Leniency on Absences
The Department for Education told the Express that schools will not receive any directive to adjust opening hours or relax attendance policies following the match. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated in a recent radio interview: “My view remains unchanged. Families will want to watch the game, it’s incredibly important, I understand that. But it’s not the end of the world if kids are a bit tired the next day in school, it’s more important that they’re there.”
When asked if the Department would urge schools to be more lenient with unplanned absences on Monday, the response was a firm “nope.”
Fines and Enforcement
While decisions on issuing fines are devolved to local councils, the standard fine for an unplanned school absence is £80, doubling to £160 if not paid within 21 days. Some councils do not issue fines for a single absence but monitor attendance over multiple days. In such cases, an absence on Monday could trigger a fine if it pushes a pupil over the threshold.
The government’s guidance states: “Your local council can give each parent a fine of £80, rising to £160 if you do not pay within 21 days. From the 2024 to 2025 school year, each parent will only get up to two fines for the same child in a three-year period. If you get a second fine in three years it will be £160. If you do not pay the fine in 28 days you may be taken to court for keeping your child out of school. If your child is off school three or more times within the three years you will not be fined but may be taken to court.”
Local Authority Policies
Leeds Council’s guidance explains: “Parents or carers are responsible for making sure that their child attends school. If a child is absent, their school or a local authority Attendance Improvement Officer will get in touch to find out why. We are responsible for issuing fines (also known as a penalty notice) on behalf of schools in Leeds. Fines are £80 per child, per parent if paid within 21 days. If paid between 22 and 28 days, the fine is £160 per child, per parent. This covers the whole period of the child’s absence and paid in full. If the fine is not paid, parents or carers face prosecution.”
Other local authorities apply similar rules, though many use a five- or 10-day rule before issuing fines. For example, Tower Hamlets in London and Bristol Council both use a five-day rule, issuing fines for unauthorised leave or holidays during term time after five days of absence in total. Bristol Council states: “In most cases your child or young person's school will give a warning that you may get an Education Penalty Notice. This warning is sometimes called a ‘Notice to Improve' warning letter. If a child or young person has taken holiday in term time without letting the school know in advance, a warning may not always be given.”
Match Details and Context
England manager Thomas Tuchel has encouraged parents to allow their children to stay up late to watch the game, which could end as late as 3:30am if it goes to extra time and penalties. However, the government remains firm on attendance, with no exceptions for the World Cup fixture.
